Calling it the "visual symbol of the failure of public housing'' in New Orleans, a federal housing official witnessed the demolition of the old Christopher Park Homes in Algiers Tuesday, saying endless possibilities lie ahead once the blighted complex is cleared.

"I am real happy to see this happen today,'' said David Gilmore, administrative receiver for the Housing Authority of New Orleans. "Now it can be forgotten as that symbol.''

When the development on Vespasian and Murl streets opened in 1971, it was celebrated as one of the nation's first rent-to-own public housing complexes. There were 150 two-story townhouses, a mixture of rental units and condominiums, along tree-lined streets with a community park.

But the development fell victim to decades of neglect and never lived up to the hype. Many people blamed HANO, the community's principal landowner, for mishandling its finances and federal grants, and failing to maintain the rental units and make major repairs. The buildings were plagued by termites, water leaks, electrical outages and collapsing roofs and ceilings.

HANO stopped leasing vacant apartments at the complex several years before Hurricane Katrina, and by 2005 only 80 units were occupied.

Gilmore offered to buy out the remaining property owners in 2011 at an average cost and appraisal rate of about $40,000 per unit. The last family moved out that same year in December.

The start of demolition was more than two years in the making, Gilmore said settling with property owners, and in some cases estates, where the original owners had died.

He visited the community after arriving in New Orleans two and half years ago and left feeling something had to be done immediately.

"I won't ever forget this little old lady on a walker, came out of the building and invited me in. I went inside to see her house. The conditions were unspeakable,'' he said.

Demolition begins on Christopher Park in AlgiersThe Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) demolishes the first unit in blighted Christopher Park in Algiers. The rent-to-own public housing opened in 1971, offering homes to low-income residents. The units have fallen into disrepair and blight over the years and have been a haven for problems. Shot Tuesday, April 2, 2013.

Gilmore applauded New Orleans Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who represents Algiers, for her encouragement and persistence in getting the complex razed.

She pointed to houses surrounding the eyesore. "They shouldn't have to look at this. We don't need all this blight in Algiers.''

Across the street from Christopher Park is the abandoned Crescent City Gates, which also could soon fall to the wrecking ball, and open up 20 to 30 acres of land.

"This is just the start,'' she said.

Palmer also lamented the delays in removing debris from the demolition of the Higgins Gate Apartment on nearby West Bend Parkway. Hamps Enterprises and the city are awaiting a court date on the issue, she said.

"The city is ready to take it away. We need it for the betterment of Algiers,'' she said. "It's dark. It smells bad. Kids were walking to school past this. At what point does public safety come before a lawsuit?''

HANO contracted with Durr Heavy Construction to demolish the site at a cost of $591,000. Gilmore noted that seven public housing residents from the Fischer community are working on the teardown, which is expected to be completed in July. FEMA is paying for the work.

The Orleans Parish School Board is expected to take control of the Christopher Park site as part of a property exchange with HANO.